Disc tiller



United States Patent I 1 1 3,543,865

[72] Inventors Ralph W-Tutlk; 1,387,500 8/1921 Lindgren l72/284X Floyd W.Tuttle, Tribune, Kans as 67879 2,982,363 5/1961 Sweet et a1 172/288X [21] Appl.No. 745,882 3,219,126 11/1965 Lymburner 172/286 Filed y 18,1968 FOREIGN PATENTS [451 Patented Dec-111970 54,860 6/1938 Denmark 172/288 14,359 11/1885 Great Britain 172/288 [54] DISC TILLER 445,175 6/1927 Germany 172/288 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. Primary Examiner-Robert E. Bagwill Assistant Examiner-Alan E. K0 ecki l7 2 p [52] U 8 Cl 0 Attorney-John H. Widdowson [51] lnt.Cl ..A0lb69/00 [50] Field ofSearch 172/282, 284, 285, 286, 288, 289, 29 1; 280/411 [56] References Cited ABSTRACT: A disc tiller which can be reversed in direction UNITED STATES PATENTS to turn either to the right or to the left through the use of 382,019 5/1888 Tolson et a1. l72/288X hydraulic and cable controls.

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I 1 I 1 1'1 i Patented Dec. 1, 1970 3,543,865

I N VliN'l ()RS Bum W. Tame FLOYD W. T/TTLE DISC TILLER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Our tiller comprises an elongated horizontal frame having a transverse horizontal member adjacent but spaced apart from one end. A first vertically rotatable wheel is pivotally secured to said one end of the frame. Means are pivotally secured at one end to the midpoint of said member. A second vertically rotatable wheel is pivotably secured to the midpoint of one of the horizontally elongated opposite sides of the frame. A third vertically rotatable wheel is pivotally secured to the midpoint of the opposite side of the frame. A horizontal bar is pivotally secured at its midpoint to the other end of the frame. Fourth and fifth vertically rotatable wheels are secured to opposite ends of the bar and extend downward therefrom.

Conventional tillers can be turned in only one direction either to the right or to the left. Our tiller, by changing the direction of hitch wheels and axles through the use of hydraulic and cable controls, can be turned either to the left or right as desired and thus is a two way tiller as compared to the conventional one way tiller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our tiller;

FIG. 2 is a top view showing one type of turn of our tiller;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating no turning movement.

FIG. 4 is a view similar'to FIG. 2 but showing an opposite turn;

FIG. 5 is a detail side view of a portion of our tiller;

FIG. 6 is a top detail view of the portion shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail of some of the parts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are side and top details of the telescoping hitch used in our tiller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, a horizontal elongated main frame 10 supports conventionally tiller discs 12. Arms 14 extend transversely outward in opposite directions from the midpoints of opposite elongated sides of the frame, The free ends of these arms are connected to post spindles and bearings 16 supporting vertical wheels 18 freely rotatable about horizontal axles. These wheels can be rotated or swiveled about the vertical spindles.

A main hitch 20 is secured at one end to the midpoint of a transversely horizontally extending member 22 and this midpoint is pivotally secured to the midpoint of a transverse horizontal member 24 spanning the sides of the frame.

Pivotally secured to one end of the frame is one end of a connecter 26. The other end of connecter 26 is connected to the midpoint of a vertical inverted U-shaped element 28 having horizontally rotatable pulleys 30 above each end and supporting another wheel 18. The frame also supports pulleys 30 at various points.

A horizontal arm 32 is pivotally secured at its midpoint to the other end of the frame. This arm supports at each end post spindles and bearings 16 supporting wheels 18. In addition pulleys 34 rotatable in horizontal planes are connected to the spindles whereby rotation of a pulley causes rotation of its wheel about the vertical spindle. Anotherarm 36 also secured at its midpoint to the same end of the frame, but extending along the direction of elongation and not pivotable is connected at each end by cables 38 that extend around the pulleys.

Cables 40 connected to arm 32 between the ends and the midpoint extend around various pulleys and ultimately are connected to opposite ends of member 22 as shown to obtain the desired range of movements as assisted by additional cables 40 interconnecting the frame, hitch and other pulleys 30.

Hydraulic lines 42 provide additional conventional control actuation of the discs and the like.

While we have described our invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

We claim:

l. A disc tiller comprising:

a. an elongated horizontal frame having earth-working means connected thereto;

b. a transverse member horizontally pivoted to said frame adjacent one end portion thereof;

c. an elongated hitch rigidly secured in its rearward end portion to the midpoint of said member and normally extending in a position forwardly therefrom generally along the longitudinal axis of said frame;

d. a first horizontal bar horizontally pivotally secured at its midpoint to said one frame end portion;

. a first wheel rotatably mounted to said first bar;

. a second horizontal bar pivotally mounted at its midpoint to the other end portion of said frame;

g. a pair of wheel-carrying vertical standards, each standard being rotatably mounted at its upper end portion in a respective outer end portion of said second bar;

h. a pair of first linkage means, each being connected to said hitch and engaging a respective end portion of said first bar in said normal position, for horizontally angling said first wheel in response to horizontal movement of said hitch from said normal position;

i. a pair of second linkage means, each being connected between respective end portions of said horizontal member and said second bar to horizontally angle said second bar in response to horizontal movement of said hitch; and

j. a pair of third linkage means, each being connected between said frame and a respective one of said standards to horizontally angle said vertical standards in response to horizontal movement of said second bar.

2. A tiller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage means comprises cables.

3. A tiller as set forth in claim I wherein said first pair of linkage means comprises a pair of cables, each being connected between said hitch and said frame.

4. A tiller as set forth in claim 1 further including a pair of first arms. each arm being secured at its inner end portion to the midpoint of a respective frame side and extending transversely therefrom; and a pair of wheel-carrying vertical standards, the upper end of each standard being rotatably mounted in the outer end of a respective arm. 

